According to the World Population Review for this year, 4.5% of Stonington’s 19,057 residents that live live in poverty. In the village of Pawcatuck that takes up much of the eastern half of Stonington, the poverty rate is double. And according to data, about 10% of all of Stonington’s children live in poverty.

In other words, a lot of people from southeastern Connecticut and southwestern Rhode Island need a helping hand.

It’s especially tough today because of increasing inflation that has jacked up prices on food, heating fuel and everything else. It’s gotten so bad that a young mother from from the region said on TV the other night that she’ll have to postpone her mortgage payment to heat her home this winter.

Aid is available , but some needy residents don’t fit the criteria to qualify for state or federal benefits. That’s when local non-profit charity organizations are needed, and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center is one of these places.

Incorporated in 1986, PNC was started by a group of Stonington residents in 1985 who wanted a place to meet to discuss civil matters. It has grown exponentially since.

They have a food pantry that gives food to those in need that live in Westerly, Stonington, North Stonington and Mystic. One must register for all the organization’s programs to prove people are within certain income levels.

When you’ve become a client, you come to the facility once a week to get the food you’ll need for the week. Also, they have the weekender backpack program on Fridays. It’s for school kids who are given enough food to last the weekend.

According to Susan Sedensky, the executive director at Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, “It’s non-profit organization that acts as a safety net for people that need us. They’re grass roots and community based. Our mission is to help people get back on their feet.”

A week before Thanksgiving they handed out turkeys and all the fixings to residents in need. They also deliver food to the other senior centers in the towns they care for.

They use a van that picks up food donations from local grocery stores, the Connecticut Food Bank, the Gemma E. Moran food pantry and other places and deliver it to communities in the towns of Westerly, Stonington, North Stonington and Mystic.

This past growing season, PNC’s community Garden on the organization’s property gave away 2,000 pounds of vegetables. PNC also helps their clients get heating assistance.

The agency even helps clients in need of employment. They have a retired human resource professional who helps them find jobs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays an intern comes in to PNC to refer people to job possibilities.

Upstairs is the facility’s senior center that has a cafeteria where they serve lunches. A community breakfast is made possible by the Pawcatuck Lion’s Club every other Friday. On Thursdays they have the veteran coffee hour. Also, PNC’s senior center offers arts and crafts classes, chair and gentle yoga, fitness classes, line dancing instruction, life story writing and support groups.

The organization has a thrift store that’s open Monday through Friday. It has affordable clothing and other items. They also have a lot of holiday items for sale at very affordable prices.

The facility has up to 300 volunteers a year. Most of them are retired and have ample time to help out for at least three hours a week.

Later this year, PNC will be preparing for its yearly appeal for donations and municipal funds.

Steven Birt lives in Mystic.